Safety device for elevators.



W. FRIMAN.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17,1913.

Patented Aug. 25

awuwtoa WILHELM FRI MPIN 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1. 7 2 49 wi/tflc'olco mm M HA9.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTauTi-la. WASHINGTON, D. C.

W. FRIMAN.

SAFETY DEVICE FOB. ELEVATORS.

APPLIOATIOH FILED SEPT. 17,1913.

2 SHBBTSSHEET 2.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

anaemic a U \LHELM Fm MaN 1 use in the "device.

wILHELMrRmAN, or rrnwronr NEWS, VIRGINIA.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR m-nvaross.,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 25, 12914.

Application filed September 1"i"', 1913. Serial Ito. 790,326.

primary object of the invention is to providea device "of this character which will positively prevent the loss of life of the occupants of the elevator in case the operating cables therefor are broken. I

A further object of the invention resides in )roviding an elevator cage having a movab 0 floor therein which directly operatesthe safety devices. f r

Astill further object of the invention resides in-providing a device which is simple and durable in construction, inex ensivelto' manufacture and one which wil be v'ery efiicient and useful in operation.-

invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of dparts as will. be hereinafter referred to an more particularly pointed out in'the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is avertical section through the elevator cage in place in the shaft. Fig. 2 is a similar View taken at right angles to the plane of Fig. 1.- Fig.

3' is a diagrammatic view of the cam action of the device. Fig.4 is a detail elevation partly in section of the springs used in'xthe device. Fig.5 is a-diagrammaticview-showing the relation of the cams and'gears in Figs. 6 and 7 are detail elevations of the different sets of'gears in the device. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary:horizontal section of the deviceshowing the manner in which the elevator cage is braced in the shaft; Fig. 9 1s a diagrammaticview showing the position of the parts of. the device first, when the elevator is in its opera- Live position in thecage; and sccond,..wlien the elevator is fallin after arable has-been braken, and Fig. 10 1s a detail plan View of the connection between the turnbuckle and spring member inthe device.

In describing my invention, 1. shall refer to the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several-views and in which- 1 iudicates'an elevator cage or car' opera tively mounted in the shaft 2. This car or cage 1 is provided with a door-way 3. and mounted for'slidirig-movement between rails 4-. which are arranged in the inner corners of the car 1, is a platform 5, said platform having. grooved rollers 6 arranged at the corners thereof for cooperation with the rails 4. Thecar or cage proper whiclris often termed a shell, is guided in the shaft 2 between a pair of side rails or tracks 8 mounted on the sides of said-shaft, said shell or car being provided with airs of upper and lower keepers 9 slidab y receiving the rails or tracks 8 therein and through the medium of this construction: there will be no lateral or torsional movement of the device as the same is raisedandlowered in the shaft. 5

The platform 5, which forms a'movable bottom in the elevator carer cage 1, is sus- "pended in the latter bymeans of .rods 10, 'With these and other objects-1n view, the

said rods having coil. springs 11 engaged withthel upper ends thereof and chains engaged with said coil springs, said chains extending'looselv through the top of said car or cage 1. The springs ll are tensioned by the movable platform 5 and, should the cable or rope 21 break, serve to throw-the brakes or cams 22 into operative position,'as will hereinafter be-rnore fully set forth. In order that the passengers of the car or ,cage may not observe these rods, springs,. and chains, covering plates or walls? are'provided which depend from the top of the car or cage 1 to points adjacent thenormal position of the platform .5. r

Mounted on the side ed es of the to i of the car or cage 1- are the be'aringmenfbers 13 which receive therethrough a pair of shafts 1.4: which are designed to oscillate in saidbearings. "Mounted on the shafts adjacent the ends of the same are the combined gears and pulleys 15, the gear portions of which are meshed with one another and the pulley portions of which receive thereon the chainsl2, said chains being also secured to said combined gears and pulleys. It will be seen from this construction that the platform-is'movable w1th1n=the car 1, and when .moved downwardly, is adapted to cause the shafts is 'to berotated in' 'op posite' directions the gear portions of through the medium' of readily acljustcd,.for a. purpose to be seen from the description presently, to follow. "Also mounted on thershaits 14. about centrally thereof, are the additional combined pulleys a'nd gears 18,:the: gear, portions oi which are meshed witli one another, and the pulley portions of which'; .havc"extending thereover. the chains 19, the latter being scoured at their lower ends to said members '18. The chains 19 tend to converge upwardly and are connected to a linking momber which-is .suspended..from the lower .end' of a cable 'or=rope 21, the latter being connected to the means-for raising and lowering the care 'R1g1dly mounted on the.

outerrends of-the shafts 14 are the earns 22 which-are arranged on each side of the aforesaid rails 8 and, in the normal position of the device, these cams are slightlyspaced from said .rails The. tendency of these springs 16 is to'turn theshafts 14in such' -a;direetion as to'eause the cams 22 to bind tightly-against thelirails 8 but the weight otthe elevator andits'adjunctive parts, with s? withoutpassengers therein,,-pnlling balances the tension of said springs. The shaftsli are, therefore, rotated suiiiciently through the medium of. the members 18 and "the chains 19- which are connected with the members -18 and the suspension means, to "dispose the crime or what may betermed clutchmemhers, to their ineffective positions with respect tolthe mile 8. This is the 1101's mal position of said cams-and shaftsin the movement of the elevator c'ar inithe shaftl Should itoccur, however, from any cause whatsoever, that oneof the chains 19. or the suspension cable 21 become severed, thereby releasing the normal pull or-force on the combined pulleys and gears 18,'t.he springs 16 will immediately become effective and be:

ing under tension'ten'd to rotate the shafts 14 in the opposite direction to which they had been disposed by 'the members 18. The disposition of these shafts in the last mentioned direction will, obviously. cause the cams or clutch-members 24: to become effeetive andbindtightly' against thfiylflllfi 8. In this manner,-it willilo'eseen thht theeIeE- vator car may only drop a very slight disto the shafts and ante na distance bein'g, ,ineasured in inches. The positionof the parts wlth respect'to-oii'e"another -l'fr their positions he- ,foregandaifter-the cams are in their effeci-i've position, may be seen from the showing made in the diagrammatic view indicated as Fig; 9. In view of the spring suspension otthe. platform in the elevator car, which directly supports the passengers, it will be seen that no undue Jar willpccur as the suspension means is severed and the car tends 'todescend in the shaft, The construction of. this safety device is such as to stop the complete device inits descension alinost immediately upon the severing or breaking of the suspension cableor any part in connection therewith.

From the foregoing description of the i construction of my improved, device, the

operation thereof will be, readily understood", and it will be seen that I have pro- .vided'an, improved safety device for elevators whielrwill he obviously effective in every respect. It will further beseen that the device is one which is simple and durable in construction, inexpensive ,to manufacture, and very etlicient and useful in operation. H

;-,Wh ile ;I have particularly described the elements best adapted to performwthefunctions sct, forth, it is obvious that various changes zin form, proportion and, in the minor details of, construction may beresort- :Gd'gIZO, within the scope vof the appended claims, without departing fronnthe spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention. Having what is claimed is:-,-- downwardly on the suspension means, overthus described this invention,

1. ,The combination provided with tracks, acar arrangedto engage. the tracks, and suspension means for ithecan; of .a pair of shafts mounted for partiziLrotation on thetop of, the car, three-- pairs of intermeshing gears carried by the shafts, independentfiexible connections between the intermediate pairof, gears. and the suspension means connected .to rotate the shafts/in one direction, reversing spr ngs connecting the shafts, a movable platform :arranged in the car, connections between the terminal pairs of gearsand the, platform arranged-ate, rotate the shafts, in the same direct onv as the springs, and track clutches -carricd'by the ends of the shafts and disposedbmppposite sides, of the tracks and arranged togrip the tracks when theshaits are rotated by the springs and platform by the. breaking of the suspension means.

2., ,The combination with an elevator shaft provided with tracks,- a be! arranged to on gagetthe tracks, and suspension means, for

the-oar; of a pain-,of-nhorizontal shafts mounted for partial rotatienonthe top of the car and projecting beyond the sides thereof, three pairs of intermeshing gears carried by the shafts, independent flexible connections between the intermediate pair of gears and the suspension means connected to rotate the shafts in one direction, reversing springs connecting the shafts, means or adjustin the tension of the springs, a movable platform mounted within the ear, yielding connections between the terminal pairs of gears and the platform arranged to rotate the shafts in the same direction as the springs, and means carried by the outer ends of the shafts and arraiwed to engage frictionally with the tracks w en the shafts are rotated by the springs and platform.

3. The combination with an elevator shaft provided with tracks, a car arranged to engage the tracks, and suspension means for the ear; of a pair of horizontal shafts mounted for partial rotation on the top of the ear and projecting beyond the sides thereof, three pairs of intermeshing combined gears and pulleys mounted on the shafts, independent flexible connections between the intermediate pairs of pulleys and the suspension means connected to rotate the shafts in one direction, adjustable reversing springs connecting the shafts, a movable platform arranged within the car, yielding connections between the latform and the two terminal pairs of pu leys arranged to rotate the shafts in the same direction as the springs, and cams carried by the outer ends of the shafts and arranged to engage with the tracks when the she ts are rotated by the springs and platform.

4. The combination with an elevator shaft provided with tracks, a car arranged to engage the tracks, and suspension means for the car; of a pair of horizontal shafts mounted for partial rotation on the top of the car and projecting beyond the sides thereof, three pairs of intermeshing combined ears and pulleys carried by the shafts, independent flexible connections between the intermediate pair of pulleys and the suspension means connected to rotate the shafts in one direction, adjustably connected reversing springs connecting the shafts, a movable platform, resilient connections between the terminal pairs of pulleys and the platform, arranged to rotate the shafts in the same direction as the springs, and pairs of cams carried by the terminals of the shafts and disposed on each side of the tracks, and arranged to be thrown into engagement therewith by the reversing springs and platform upon breakage of the suspension means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

\VILHELM FRIMAN.

Witnesses W. T. STAUFFER, C. O. PUGH.

segues a! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

